Massage chair

ABSTRACT

A massage chair includes a seat, a backrest and a front cover. The front cover is shaped to cover the front face of the backrest and the top face of the seat. The upper and lower ends of the front cover are detachably attached to the upper part of the backrest and the front part of the seat through upper and lower attachments, respectively. The left and right ends of the front cover are detachably attached only to the left and right ends of the seat through left and right attachments, respectively. The attachment positions of the left and right ends of the front cover correspond to positions of the left and right ends of the seat, respectively.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to massage chairs and, more particularly, to a massage chair configured to give a massage to the back of a user with movable massage heads put in a backrest.

BACKGROUND ART

Japanese Patent Application Publication Number P2003-38600A published on Feb. 12, 2003 discloses a massage machine. This massage machine is configured to give a massage to the back of a user with a plurality of (four) movable massage heads put in a backrest. Specifically, the backrest includes an elevating mechanism and a rectangular frame.

The elevating mechanism is configured to move the massage heads in a length direction of the frame (the height direction of the backrest). The backrest further includes two side covers, a front cloth (polyester cloth or the like) and a rear housing. A cushion such as urethane foam, sponge or the like is provided between each side cover and the frame. The front cloth is fixed between the side covers, and a movable range of the massage heads is covered with the front cloth.

However, as the appearance of the front cloth is different from that of each side cover, the difference in appearance therebetween causes disfigurement of the front face of the backrest. A part of the front cloth drops between the side covers and thereby wrinkles occur in the front cloth. The wrinkles also cause disfigurement of the front face of the backrest.

In the massage machine (hereinafter referred to as a “first massage machine”), a back pad is further attached to the front part of the backrest and thereby the above problems can be solved. Japanese Patent Application Publication Number P2000-350758A published on Dec. 19, 2000 also discloses a massage machine (hereinafter referred to as a “second massage machine”) having a back cushion like the back pad.

However, in the second massage machine, a user cannot easily attach the back cushion to the backrest at a right place and with proper strength. Because the back cushion is attached to the backrest by a plurality of (four) attaching means, such as sheet fasteners (magic tapes (trademark) or hook-and-loop fasteners), belts, connection cords, or the like). For example, attaching means may be combined with each other by mistake.

This problem can be settled with the first massage machine. That is, all of the upper end and both sides of the back pad can be attached to the backrest with one zipper. However, a user needs to add a comparatively large force to the fingertips at each corner of the backrest in particular. In addition, if the movable range of the massage heads is expanded downward, the lower end of the back pad may roll up by time degradation. Because the lower end of the back pad is not attached to the backrest. Moreover, if the movable range is expanded to the rear end of a seat of the massage machine, the lower end of the back pad drops between the side covers and thereby wrinkles occur in the lower end of the back pad. The wrinkles cause disfigurement of the massage machine.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to remove wrinkles generated in a front cover for covering a backrest without detachably attaching all or part of both sides of the front cover to the backrest.

A massage chair of the present invention comprises a seat (20), a backrest (3), an elevating mechanism and a front cover (1). The seat (20) is formed so that a user can sit thereon (20). The backrest (3) is configured to support the user's back, and movable massage heads (6 and 7) are put therein (3). The elevating mechanism is configured to move the massage heads in a movable range along a height direction of the backrest (3). The front cover (1) is shaped to cover the front face of the backrest (3).

An aspect of the present invention is described. The movable range includes a range of the backrest (3) to the rear end of the seat (20). The front cover (1) is shaped to cover the front face of the backrest (3) and the top face of the seat (20). The upper end (10) and the lower end (11) of the front cover (1) are detachably attached to the upper part of the backrest (3) and the front part of the seat (20) through an upper attachment and a lower attachment, respectively. On the other hand, the left end (12) and the right end (13) of the front cover (1) are detachably attached only to the left end and the right end of the seat (20) through a left attachment and a right attachment, respectively. The attachment positions of the left end (12) and the right end (13) of the front cover (1) correspond to positions of the left end and the right end of the seat (20), respectively.

In this invention, the left end (12) and the right end (13) of the front cover (1) can be pulled outward. The left end (12) and the right end (13) of the front cover (1) can be also pulled to the left end and the right end of the seat (20) with respect to the upper end (10) of the front cover (1). The wrinkles generated in the front cover (1) can be thereby removed without detachably attaching all or part of both sides of the front cover (1) to the backrest (3).

In an embodiment, intermediate parts of the left end (12) and the right end (13) of the front cover (1) are detachably attached only to the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat (20) through the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively. The intermediate parts of the left end (12) and the right end (13) of the front cover (1) correspond to positions of the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat (20), respectively.

In an embodiment, the left attachment is a zipper (18) comprising two strips (181 and 182) each of which has a top stop (183, 184). Similarly, the right attachment is a zipper (19) comprising two strips (191 and 192) each of which has a top stop. The two strips (181 and 182) of the zipper (18) are fixed to the front cover (1) and the seat (20), respectively so that the top stops (183 and 184) of the strips (181 and 182) are located at the upper part side of the backrest (3). Similarly, the two strips (191 and 192) of the zipper (19) are fixed to the front cover (1) and the seat (20), respectively so that the top stops of the strips (191 and 192) are located at the upper part side of the backrest (3). In this embodiment, load added to the front cover (1) can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to protect the front cover (1), the massage heads and so on.

In an embodiment, the front cover (1) comprises a left flap (14) and a right flap (15) covering the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively. In this embodiment, the appearance of the massage chair can be improved.

In an embodiment, the lower attachment is comprised of the front part of the seat (20) and a hood integrally formed at the lower end (11) of the front cover (1). The size of the hood is equal to or larger than that of the front part of the seat (20) and smaller than that of the upper part of the backrest (3). In this embodiment, a user can be assisted in covering the front part of the seat (20) with the lower end (11) of the front cover (1), namely the hood. If the front part of the seat (20) is coved with the hood, the upper end (10), left end (12) and right end (13) of the front cover (1) can be properly attached to the upper part of the backrest (3), the left end and the right end of the seat (20), respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective views of a front cover and a massage chair, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, respectively;

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of an essential part of the massage chair taken along line A-A of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a frame in the massage chair;

FIGS. 4A and 4B each show an enlarged view of a left attachment in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the massage chair;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show perspective views of a front cover and a massage chair, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, respectively; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B show perspective views of a front cover and a massage chair, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a massage chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This massage chair includes a base 2, a backrest 3, a left wing 4 and a right wing 5, and further includes a front cover 1 as an aspect of the present invention.

The base 2 includes four legs 21, and a seat 20 which is supported by the four legs 21 and a user can sit on.

The backrest 3 is configured to support the user's back, and movable massage heads are put therein (3). In the example of FIG. 1B, the size of the upper part of the backrest 3 is larger than that of the front part of the seat 20. The massage chair also has a left massage head 6 and a right massage head 7. Note that, besides this, the massage chair of the present invention may have two or more left massage heads and two or more right massage heads like the aforementioned first and second massage machines.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 3, the backrest 3 includes a rectangular frame 30 that forms the front part of the backrest 3. The frame 30 includes a left stile (a vertical member) 31, a right stile (a vertical member) 32, and a top rail (a horizontal member) 33 and a bottom rail (a horizontal member) 34 intervening between them. Each of the stiles 31 and 32 is in the shape of a curve that its own lower side bends gradually forward. The waist of a user can be supported by the bent sides of the stiles 31 and 32.

Preferably, the bent sides of the stiles 31 and 32 are formed so that a gap between the bent sides and the waist of a user can be reduced. In this case, a massage can be securely given to a range of shoulders to waist of a user.

In addition, a left cushion 35 and a right cushion 36 are also fixed to the front lower parts of the stiles 31 and 32, respectively. The frame 30 forms the front part of the backrest 3, and accordingly the backrest 3 has a rectangular opening 37. The frame 30 also includes an opening cover 38 closing the opening 37 like the first massage machine. Thereby, the inside of the backrest 3 can be protected from foreign objects.

In the embodiment, the low end part 300 of the frame 30 forms the rear end part of the seat 20. That is, the top face of the low end part 300 (parts of the cushions 35 and 36) forms a part of the top face of the seat 20, and is flush with the other part of the top face of the seat 20.

The left and right wings 4 and 5 form left and right sides of the massage chair, respectively. Note that, besides this, the backrest of the present invention may further include two side covers like the first massage machine. The rear part of the backrest 3 is composed of a rear cover (not shown) or a part of the base 2 (not shown). In an example, the left and right wings 4 and 5 include left and right armrests, respectively. In another example, the massage chair has left and right linear armrests coupled to the backrest 3, or left and right L-shaped armrests coupled to the base 2 and the backrest 3.

The massage chair further includes an elevating mechanism (not shown). The elevating mechanism is configured to move the massage heads 6 and 7 in a movable range (i.e., opening 37) along a height direction of the backrest 3. In an example, the elevating mechanism is configured to move the massage heads 6 and 7 up and down in the movable range and also to drive the massage heads so as to give a massage to a user. The movable range includes a range of the backrest 3 to the rear end of the seat 20. Preferably, the movable range is set in accordance with a range of shoulders to waist of a tall user. In this case, if a short user sits back on the massage chair deeply, a massage can be given to a range of shoulders to waist of the short user. Thus, if a user fits the waist to the aforementioned bent sides, the massage chair can give a massage to a range of shoulders to waist of a user irrespective of the user's height.

The front cover 1 is shaped to cover the front face of the backrest 3 and the top face of the seat 20. In an example, the front cover 1 is a rectangular cloth and made from polyester or the like. Note that, besides this, the front cover of the present invention may be made of leather, synthetic leather or the like.

The upper end 10 and the lower end 11 of the front cover 1 are detachably attached to the upper part of the backrest 3 and the front part of the seat 20 through an upper attachment and a lower attachment, respectively. The upper attachment is comprised of first and second upper attachments which can be detachably engaged with each other and are located at the upper end 10 of the front cover 1 and the upper part of the backrest 3, respectively. For example, the upper attachment is an open-ended zipper 16 including two strips 161 and 162 which are fixed to the upper end 10 of the front cover 1 and the upper part of the backrest 3, respectively. Each strip is formed with teeth and a top stop. An open-ended zipper also includes an insertion pin and a retainer box in addition to a slider and a pull tab, and the two strips can be totally separated.

The lower attachment is comprised of first and second lower attachments which can be detachably engaged with each other and are located at the lower end 11 of the front cover 1 and the front part of the seat 20, respectively. For example, the second lower attachment is the front part of the seat 20. The seat 20 is incorporated in the massage chair so that the whole circumference of the front part of the seat 20 can be covered. The first lower attachment is a hood shaped to cover the front part of the seat 20, and the hood is integrally formed in the lower end 11 of the front cover 1. Specifically, the hood is formed in the rear of the lower end 11 so that it can cover the front part of the seat 20 but cannot cover the upper part of the backrest 3. In short, the size of the hood is equal to or larger than that of the front part of the seat 20 and smaller than that of the upper part of the backrest 3. In an example, the lower attachment is a zipper.

The left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 are detachably attached only to the left end and the right end of the seat 20 through a left attachment and a right attachment, respectively. The attachment positions of the left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 correspond to positions of the left end and the right end of the seat 20, respectively. In the embodiment, intermediate parts of the left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 are detachably attached only to the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat 20 through the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively. The intermediate parts of the left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 correspond to the positions of the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat 20, respectively.

The left attachment is comprised of first and second left attachments which can be detachably engaged with each other and are located at an intermediate part of the left end 12 of the front cover 1 and the left rear end of the seat 20, respectively. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 4A and 4B, the left attachment is an open-ended zipper 18 including two strips 181 and 182. The strip 181 is fixed to an intermediate part of the left end 12 of the front cover 1 along a length direction of the front cover 1. The strip 182 is fixed to the left rear end of the seat 20 along the left side of the seat 20.

The right attachment is comprised of first and second right attachments which can be detachably engaged with each other and are located at an intermediate part of the right end 13 of the front cover 1 and the right rear end of the seat 20, respectively. For example, the right attachment is an open-ended zipper 19 including two strips 191 and 192.

The strip 191 is fixed to an intermediate part of the right end 13 of the front cover 1 along the length direction of the front cover 1. The strip 192 is fixed to the right rear end of the seat 20 along the right side of the seat 20.

In the example of FIG. 4B, the strips 181 and 182 of the zipper 18 are fixed to the front cover 1 and the seat 20, respectively so that the top stops 183 and 184 of the strips 181 and 182 are located at the upper part side of the backrest 3. That is, the insertion pin and the retainer box of the zipper 18 are located at the front part side of the seat 20. Similarly, the strips 191 and 192 of the zipper 19 are fixed to the front cover 1 and the seat 20, respectively so that the top stops of the strips 191 and 192 are located at the upper part side of the backrest 3. In this example, if a certain object exists between the front cover 1 and the backrest 3 while the massage heads are moved, the object may be pushed toward the seat side with the massage heads. If the zippers 18 and 19 are fixed in the inverse direction of FIG. 4B, the front cover 1 is pushed with the object and then load is added to not only the front cover 1 but also the massage heads. However, in the example of FIG. 4B, the sliders of the zipper 18 and 19 can move toward the retainer boxes, and accordingly it is possible to release all or part of each engagement of the zippers 18 and 19. Thereby, load added to the front cover 1 and so on can be reduced. Accordingly, the front cover 1, the massage heads and so on can be protected.

A procedure of attaching the front cover 1 to the massage chair is explained. First, the front part of the seat 20 is covered with the hood of the front cover 1. The left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 are attached to the left end and the right end of the seat 20 through the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively. Finally, the upper end 10 of the front cover 1 is attached to the upper part of the backrest 3 through the upper attachment. Thus, the front cover 1 can be easily attached to the massage chair (see FIG. 5).

In another example, after the upper end 10 of the front cover 1 is attached to the upper part of the backrest 3 through the upper attachment, the left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 are attached to the left end and the right end of the seat 20 through the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively.

In the embodiment, the intermediate parts of the left end 12 and the right end 13 of the front cover 1 correspond to the positions of the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat 20, respectively and the intermediate parts are attached to the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat 20. Accordingly, the intermediate parts can be pulled outward. The upper end 10 of the front cover 1 is also attached to the upper part of the backrest 3, and accordingly the intermediate parts can be pulled toward the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat 20 with respect to the upper end 10 of the front cover 1. Accordingly, wrinkles generated in the front cover 1 can be removed without detachably attaching all or part of both sides of the front cover 1 to the backrest 3.

In the first massage machine, since the lower end of the back pad is not attached to the massage machine, wrinkles may occur in the lower end. In the present embodiment, the problem can be solved, as the lower end 11 of the front cover 1 can be attached to the front part of the seat 20.

In the embodiment, the appearance of the opening cover 38 differs from that of the other part in the front face of the backrest 3, but the front cover 1 covers not only the backrest 3 but also the seat 20 and accordingly the appearance of the massage chair can be improved. In addition, slippage of the front cover 1 with respect to the massage chair in use can be prevented. If a cushion is used for the backrest 3, the massage chair can be employed as a comfort chair.

The size of the hood is equal to or larger than that of the front part of the seat 20 and smaller than that of the upper part of the backrest 3, and accordingly a user can be assisted in covering the front part of the seat 20 with the lower end 11 of the front cover 1, namely the hood. If the front part of the seat 20 is coved with the hood, the upper end 10, left end 12 and right end 13 of the front cover 1 can be properly attached to the upper part of the backrest 3, the left end and the right end of the seat 20, respectively.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A and 6B, the front cover 1 further includes a left flap (flat piece) 14 and a right flap (flat piece) 15 covering the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively. In this embodiment, since the left and right attachments are coved with the left and right flaps, respectively, the appearance of the massage chair can be improved. The left and right flaps can be also employed as earmarks showing the positions of the left and right attachments, respectively.

In a modified example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the left flap 14 is continuously formed from the left side of the lower end 11 of the front cover 1 (hood) to at least the intermediate part of the left end 12. Similarly, the right flap 15 is continuously formed from the right side of the lower end 11 to at least the intermediate part of the right end 13. In this example, the left and right attachments can be protected with the left and right flaps 14 and 15, respectively. Moreover, each appearance of the left and right flaps is unified with the hood, and accordingly the appearance of the massage chair can be more improved.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention, namely claims. 

1. A massage chair, comprising: a seat which a user can sit on; a backrest in which movable massage heads are put, the back being configured to support the user's back; an elevating mechanism configured to move the massage heads in a movable range along a height direction of the backrest; and a front cover shaped to cover the front face of the backrest, wherein the movable range includes a range of the backrest to the rear end of the seat, wherein the front cover is shaped to cover the front face of the backrest and the top face of the seat, wherein the upper end and the lower end of the front cover are detachably attached to the upper part of the backrest and the front part of the seat through an upper attachment and a lower attachment, respectively, while the left end and the right end of the front cover are detachably attached only to the left end and the right end of the seat through a left attachment and a right attachment, respectively, the attachment positions of the left end and the right end of the front cover corresponding to positions of the left end and the right end of the seat, respectively.
 2. The massage chair of claim 1, wherein intermediate parts of the left end and the right end of the front cover are detachably attached only to the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat through the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively, the intermediate parts of the left end and the right end of the front cover corresponding to positions of the left rear end and the right rear end of the seat, respectively.
 3. The massage chair of claim 1, wherein each of the left attachment and the right attachment is a zipper comprising two strips each of which has a top stop, two strips of each zipper of the left attachment and the right attachment being fixed to the front cover and the seat, respectively so that the top stops of the two strips are located at the upper part side of the backrest.
 4. The massage chair of claim 1, wherein the front cover comprises a left flap and a right flap covering the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively.
 5. The massage chair of claim 3, wherein the front cover comprises a left flap and a right flap covering the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively.
 6. The massage chair of claim 1, wherein the lower attachment is comprised of the front part of the seat and a hood integrally formed at the lower end of the front cover, wherein the size of the hood is equal to or larger than that of the front part of the seat and smaller than that of the upper part of the backrest.
 7. The massage chair of claim 2, wherein each of the left attachment and the right attachment is a zipper comprising two strips each of which has a top stop, two strips of each zipper of the left attachment and the right attachment being fixed to the front cover and the seat, respectively so that the top stops of the two strips are located at the upper part side of the backrest.
 8. The massage chair of claim 2, wherein the front cover comprises a left flap and a right flap covering the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively.
 9. The massage chair of claim 7, wherein the front cover comprises a left flap and a right flap covering the left attachment and the right attachment, respectively. 